I just finished this book for the second time. I really loved it. I appreciate David's objective view of himself....he paints the good right along with the bad. He seems to be a man who knows himself well. I loved reading of his adventures and how he went from climber to film-maker/climber. Of course, his perspective on the 1996 Everest disaster is invaluable, since he was one of the only people not in a state of severe hypoxia who was able to recount the tale. I was especially moved by his account of Beck Weathers and how Beck's fortitude and good humor in the face of unimaginable suffering changed his life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves tales of adventure, and self-discovery.

One of my favorite climbing books written thus far... What a man!!! I will definatly have fantasies about such an adventurer long after I have forgotten the books title. Very well written which is unusual with climbing books...

cc:

For generations of resolute adventurers, from George Mallory to Sir Edmund Hillary to Jon Krakauer, Mount Everest and the world's other greatest peaks have provided the ultimate testing ground. But the question remains: Why climb? In High Exposure, elite mountaineer and acclaimed Everest filmmaker David Breashears answers with an intimate and captivating look at his life.
For Breashears, climbing has never been a question of risk taking: Rather, it is the pursuit of excellence and a quest for self-knowledge. Danger comes, he argues, when ambition blinds reason. The stories this world-class climber and great adventurer tells will surprise you -- from discussions of competitiveness on the heights to a frank description of the 1996 Everest tragedy.

by David Breashears

This was a journey inside the life and mind of an adventurer. I enjoyed the life story, the personal insight, and the retelling of his many experiences. I definitely reccomend this as must read.

Pretty darn good. I have a sneaky feeling that David Breashers might be more than a little arrogant, but these extreme mountain climber folk are definitely nuts, so it isn't too surprising if they are also a bit prickly or difficult. Or hard to be married to...."Oh by the way honey, did I mention I'm off to Pakistan to take pictures while hanging from a little rope 20,000 feet in the air? See you in four months if I don't fall." It's not just climbing that is so unfathomable to me, the traveling you do to get to where you want to go is scary enough... read his tale of taking a taxi in India in the middle of the night (and going for hours in the wrong direction) I am no adventurer myself, but it is certainly entertaining to read about someone who is. It was also interesting to hear his account of the 1996 Everest disaster, as he figured prominently in the rescue efforts.

In this book Breashears talks about his life from the moment he fell in love with being outside to the hardships of his family to his obsession with Mount Everest. This book is one of the best books I have ever read due to my personal connections with rock climbing and being outside. He did a very good job of describing his every feeling through the whole book and everything he dealt with. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the outdoors or wants a inside look onto Mount Everest.

Excellent

David Breashears has given us fantastic film footage of high altitude mountaineering. He led and directed the 1996 Everest IMAX filming expedition. If you've seen that, you most likely agree.

Unfortunately, much of the adventure writing of the late 20th Century (remember back then?) seems to be centered more on self-fulfillment and self-expression than anything outside the self. Why did Breashears push and sacrifice to be such an accomplished mountaineer? From the story, one concludes, "Because of difficult childhood relationship with his father." It is difficult imagining Edmund Hillary, the first first to summit Everest, searching for such a motivation.

It is better read than Ed Viesturs, "No Shortcuts to the Top".

I liked this book. Being a mini mountaineer, I was familiar with Breashears' climbing and photographic prowess. It was fun to learn about the man as he sees himself. I have heard of or know several of the people he climbed with, so I felt a connection to him and his story. I am from Denver so could relate to his climbs in Boulder. Occasionally I felt bogged down in all his camera and filming details but not enough to stop reading. David Breashears is in my opinion one of the finest mountaineers of today. His filming skills are exceptional. His support and assistance during the 1996 Everest disaster is laudable, to say the least. His passion for the mountains, for Everest particularly, raises him to the pinnacle of mountaineering excellence.

excellent book. it is both his autobiography and a retelling of the 1996 Everest disaster, which Brashears witnessed firsthand as his own IMAX filming expedition was on the mountain at the same time. Brashears and Viesturs wisely decided to wait a few days as they witnessed the traffic jam going up the mountain. If you're primary purpose is to read about the Everest disaster, then you might not like wading through his early days of climbing, but I think it's essential to understand him.

I see some reviews that are glowing and some that are, in my opinion, too harsh. High Exposure is about a kid trying to figure out life after an abusive father. And, the kid is incredibly successful.

I enjoyed reading about him growing up and learning to love and become an expert in climbing. I enjoyed reading about how he stumbled into filming and would later become an expert and win many awards. I also enjoyed reading the tragedy of Everest from a different perspective (read Into Thin Air). Breashears can be very critical of the climbers that died that season. It seems to me he is correct.

Very exciting stories in here! Just confirmed my idea that I NEVER want to climb Everest, but am incredibly thankful for those brave people who have and have shared their incredible stories. Breashears is an excellent writer and I loved reading about his adventures.